THE Football Association of Wales has had to pay £15,000 compensation after dumping its long-time pre-international training base.

For more than a decade, the Wales national squad has used the luxury Vale Resort off the M4 near Cardiff.

But new coach Gary Speed decided the team would benefit from a move elsewhere, and its new pre-match base is the Celtic Manor Resort near Newport.

The team stayed there before the 2-1 win over Montenegro, but this week the Celtic Manor has been unable to accommodate the squad before tomorrow’s penultimate Euro 2012 qualifying match against Switzerland at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

Instead, the squad has been staying at St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay and training back at the Vale.

A football source who tipped off the Western Mail about the £15,000 compensation payment said: “Anyone would think the FAW had money to burn, but things are tight and everyone has been told to keep a close eye on spending.

“What sense does it make to break a contract and pay £15,000 unnecessarily?

“The FAW isn’t just about the international team – it’s responsible for the game right down to the grass roots. Local community clubs will not be happy about this.”

Typically, the Wales squad would spend two or three nights at their hotel base before a match. At the Vale there are also football pitches for training sessions – unlike the Celtic Manor, which concentrates on golf.

Ian Gwyn Hughes, head of public affairs at the FAW, confirmed that £15,000 compensation was being paid to the Vale Resort.

He said: “What you’ve been told is true. We’ve moved from the Vale to the Celtic Manor and yes we’ve had to pay the money to the Vale.

“Gary felt a change of venue would be a good thing for the team. Every manager has their own way of doing things, and Gary thought moving the squad elsewhere would be the right thing to do. Obviously, he has the FAW’s total support in that. Gary will have spent a lot of time at the Vale as a player, and his backroom staff felt moving somewhere different made sense too.

“Although they have been staying at St David’s this week, they have been training at the Vale.”

Prior to last month’s victory against Montenegro, the squad used the training facilities of Newport County, which plays in the Blue Square Premier League.

Mr Hughes said: “Obviously the change worked, because they won 2-1.”

A Celtic Manor spokesman said: “The Celtic Manor Resort was delighted to be given the opportunity to accommodate the Wales football team as they secured their first win in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against Montenegro last month.

“There is no permanent contract in place between the resort and the FAW, but we look forward to working with the national team again as they prepare for forthcoming fixtures.”

It is understood the players enjoyed their stay at the Celtic Manor, where they took advantage of the swimming and gym facilities.

Some of them played golf at the resort, which hosted last year’s Ryder Cup.

Stephen Leeke, managing director of the Vale Resort, said: “We haven’t fallen out with the FAW at all.

“This week the Under-21 team has been staying here and we occasionally have the ladies’ team.

“It was explained to us that Gary felt there was a need for a change.

“The team had lost a few matches and he thought basing the squad elsewhere made sense.

“The Wales squad was with us from about 2000, so they’ve been coming here for about a decade.

“Usually, with the backroom staff, there would be between 20 and 30 people staying.

“We would be very happy to welcome the squad back,” he added.

Asked about the £15,000 compensation payment, Mr Leeke said: “It wouldn’t be right to comment on contractual issues.”